Nazi religious policy
- Created by: valentina__calcagni
- Created on: 17-03-21 12:25
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- Nazi Religious Policies
- Gaining Control
- Protestant Churches
- United Reich Church established 1933 - under Ludwig Muller
- Nazi policy gradually resulted in alienation of many Protestants - 1934 2 Protestant bishops arrested for opposing Reich Church
- Catholic Churches
- Hitler may be concerned by potential threat - followers might put loyalty to Pope before state
- Too powerful to destroy immediately- would provoke conflict
- Church also wanted to preserve its independents = Concordat signed July 1933
- Concordat - appeared to guarantee religious freedom
- Church: could run itself, appoint ministers, parents could request Catholic school for their children
- Nazis: agreed not to interfere with legal/property rights of Church if Church stayed out of politics
- Protestant Churches
- Nazis Disobey Concordat
- Nazis had limited control on Church - Nazis started series of policies to undermine Church
- Closure of some Catholic Schools, removal of crucifixes in classrooms, ban nativity play/carols, attacks on Catholic Youth Movement, arrest of some pastors/priests, confiscation of Church funds
- Weakened Churches did not destroy its power though
- 1937 - Pope Pius encyclical attacked Nazis persecution and inhumanity
- Resisting individuals e.g Niemoller sent to camps - little more Nazis could do
- Nazis had limited control on Church - Nazis started series of policies to undermine Church
- German Faith Movement
- Regime attempted to establish an alternative to Christianity - German Faith Movement 1934
- 4 key themes:
- belief of superiority of German race + opposition to Jews
- rejection of Christian ethics of mercy + forgiveness
- replacement of Christian ceremonies with pagan versions (Jesus was a Jew)
- belief in the cult of Hitler's personality
- 4 key themes:
- Huge fail - only 5% of population joined
- Though some Church activities were restricted (once war begun) regime still reluctant to attack Church
- 1942 Churches played important role in supporting population after bombing raids - valuable role in maintaining morale
- Though the Church sympathised with Nazi views of family values and anti-Communism - regime couldn't afford to alienate them
- 1942 Churches played important role in supporting population after bombing raids - valuable role in maintaining morale
- Regime attempted to establish an alternative to Christianity - German Faith Movement 1934
- Gaining Control
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